Fitness and martial arts tips, tricks and information by an advanced health and fitness specialist.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Do Not! Do Not! Cut Carbs Out Of Your Diet.

Here is a diet tidbit for you from my private Magic Bullet Kit.

If anyone says the words I am going to cut carbs out of my diet in order to lose weight, I will barf. This is the newest diet fad and I can't wait to publish my new book on this topic.

As long as there is no insulin imbalance in the body, carbs do not make you put on weight.When we think about carbs, we tend to think about white bread, white rice and other processed foods. When these foods break down, they consist of sugars with little other nutritional value.

To choose proper carbs, always check the nutritional labels.

Look for fiber and carbs versus sugars. The higher content of fiber and carbs, the better.

Look to fruits and vegetables as a great source of carbs. As a double benefit, you also get vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

According to Susan Kleiner, author of the book Power Eating, "Bodybuilders practice low carbohydrate dieting because they believe it promotes faster weight loss. The problem with these diets is that they deplete glycogen, the body's storage form of carbohydrate. Once glycogen stores are emptied, the body starts burning protein from tissues. Including muscle tissue, to meet its energy demand . You lose hard earned muscle as a result."

When carbs break down they become ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the fuel your muscles run on.

If you are going to work out and work your muscles to their full potential, give them their preferred fuel source.